Abstract: Submarine cable branching units with fiber pair switching configured to allow any number of trunk cable fiber pairs to access the optical spectrum any number of branch cable fiber pairs. Access to a particular branch terminal is not limited to predefined subset of the trunk fiber pairs. This approach allows fewer branch cable fiber pairs to be equipped in each branching unit, reducing system cost, simplifies system planning and provides flexible routing of overall trunk cable capacity.

Abstract: A novel branching unit provided. The branching unit may include a first port for connecting a first power conductor disposed in a first optical cable, a second port for connecting a second power conductor disposed in a second optical cable, and a third port for connecting a third power conductor and a fourth power conductor disposed in a branch cable. The third port may include a first sub-port and a second sub-port. The first sub-port may be configured to connect the third power conductor of the branch cable. The second sub-port may be configured to connect the fourth power conductor of the branch cable.

Abstract: Submarine cable branching units with fiber pair switching configured to allow any number of trunk cable fiber pairs to access the optical spectrum any number of branch cable fiber pairs. Access to a particular branch terminal is not limited to predefined subset of the trunk fiber pairs. This approach allows fewer branch cable fiber pairs to be equipped in each branching unit, reducing system cost, simplifies system planning and provides flexible routing of overall trunk cable capacity.

Abstract: A system and method consistent with the present disclosure allows for a single NMS system to manage data access and control for N number of customer domains and associated users. In particular, an NMS consistent with the present disclosure may include a configuration that partitions the optical communication system by domain. For each domain, partitioning can further define per-user access constraints and privileges including access to specific equipment by, for instance, fiber pair designation, wavelength designation, specifically identified hardware elements, component categories, or any combination thereof. The NMS system may utilize a proxy server approach to authentication, e.g., using RADIUS, that allows for each party/customer to maintain separate authentication databases and equipment-specific constraints.

Abstract: An undersea fiber optic cable architecture including a beach manhole (BMH) installed at a terrestrial site, a terrestrial station connected to the BMH by a terrestrial fiber optic cable, a first landing cable extending from the BMH into territorial waters adjacent the terrestrial site and connected to a first enhanced branching unit (EBU) located in the territorial waters, a second landing cable extending from the BMH into the territorial waters and connected to a second EBU located in the territorial waters, a recovery path cable connecting the first EBU to the second EBU, a first trunk cable extending from the first EBU into international waters, and a second trunk cable extending from the second EBU into the international waters.

Abstract: Techniques for improving redundancy in semiconductor-based optical communication systems are provided. For example, two or more semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) may be provided in an optical repeater, and each SOA may form a respective amplification path. When failure occurs on a first SOA, a second SOA that is different from the first SOA can be selected. In one example, the selection may be based on wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), and in another example, the selection may be based on optical switching. The two or more SOAs (and other optical components) may be integrated in the same substrate package.

Abstract: A novel branching unit provided. The branching unit may include a first port for connecting a first power conductor disposed in a first optical cable, a second port for connecting a second power conductor disposed in a second optical cable, and a third port for connecting a third power conductor and a fourth power conductor disposed in a branch cable. The third port may include a first sub-port and a second sub-port. The first sub-port may be configured to connect the third power conductor of the branch cable. The second sub-port may be configured to connect the fourth power conductor of the branch cable.

Abstract: A novel system and apparatus for detecting and locating an external aggression on at least one optical cable of an optical communication system is provided. For example, a signal from a transmitter may be received and analysis may be performed to recover a state-of-polarization (SOP) associated with the signal. A first rapid polarization change that occurs may be identified, which may indicate that an external aggression has occurred on the at least one optical cable. A time offset between the first rapid polarization change and a second rapid polarization change may be used to estimate a location of the external aggression.

Abstract: Techniques to generate network simulation scenarios are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a records component operative to receive an example network configuration record; receive an example network operation record; a machine learning management component operative to generate a network operation model using a machine learning component based on the example network configuration record as an example input and the example network operation record as an example output; and a system-test component operative to receive a system-test network configuration record; and generate a system-test network operation record based on the system-test network configuration record using the network operation model. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A novel system and apparatus for detecting and locating an external aggression on at least one optical cable of an optical communication system is provided. For example, a signal from a transmitter may be received and analysis may be performed to recover a state-of-polarization (SOP) associated with the signal. A first rapid polarization change that occurs may be identified, which may indicate that an external aggression has occurred on the at least one optical cable. A time offset between the first rapid polarization change and a second rapid polarization change may be used to estimate a location of the external aggression.

Abstract: A novel branching unit provided. The branching unit may include a first port for connecting a first power conductor disposed in a first optical cable, a second port for connecting a second power conductor disposed in a second optical cable, and a third port for connecting a third power conductor and a fourth power conductor disposed in a branch cable. The third port may include a first sub-port and a second sub-port. The first sub-port may be configured to connect the third power conductor of the branch cable. The second sub-port may be configured to connect the fourth power conductor of the branch cable.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure includes an RPC architecture that includes a central manager gateway with a client-facing side that allows for client access via web services protocols such as SOAP and REST. The central manager gateway further includes a server-facing side that can communicate with a plurality of network elements, with each network element implementing a common IDL architecture and RPC manager instance. Each of the network elements, and in particular their RPC manager instance, may communicate with other RPC manager instances to ‘learn’ the network topology for the system and maintain a topology database for purposes of exposing a naming service, e.g., a CORBA naming service. The network elements may elect one master element while the others remain as slaves. The central manager gateway may automatically locate the master network element and forward client requests to the same for servicing.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient optical signal amplification with system monitoring features are provided. For example, an optical repeater may include two different 4-port thin-film gain flattening filters (TF-GFFs), which may be connected to provide a high-loss loop-back (HLLB) path in the optical repeater for system monitoring. The 4-port TF-GFF may have four different ports and may integrate the functionalities of a conventional GFF and a coupler into a single component, thereby increasing power efficiency of the optical repeater.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure includes an RPC architecture that includes a central manager gateway with a client-facing side that allows for client access via web services protocols such as SOAP and REST. The central manager gateway further includes a server-facing side that can communicate with a plurality of network elements, with each network element implementing a common IDL architecture and RPC manager instance. Each of the network elements, and in particular their RPC manager instance, may communicate with other RPC manager instances to ‘learn’ the network topology for the system and maintain a topology database for purposes of exposing a naming service, e.g., a CORBA naming service. The network elements may elect one master element while the others remain as slaves. The central manager gateway may automatically locate the master network element and forward client requests to the same for servicing.

Abstract: A system and method consistent with the present disclosure provides for automated line monitoring system (LMS) baselining that enables capturing and updating of operational parameters specific to each repeater and associated undersea elements based on high loss loopback (HLLB) data. The captured operational parameters may then be utilized to satisfy queries targeting specific undersea elements in a Command-Response (CR) fashion. Therefore, command-response functionality may be achieved without the added cost, complexity and lifespan issues related to deploying undersea elements with on-board CR circuitry. As generally referred to herein, operational parameters include any parameter that may be derived directly or indirectly from HLLB data. Some example non-limiting examples of operational parameters include span gain loss, input power, output power, gain, and gain tilt.

Abstract: A separation duct for encompassing an elongate member. The duct includes longitudinal internal spacers extend longitudinally in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the duct. A longitudinal plane for each spacer is substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane of the other spacers. The spacers support the elongate member and resist slippage of the duct relative to the elongate member. The duct may be used to provide separation and protection for elongate members of a range of outside dimensions.

Abstract: Submarine cable branching units with fiber pair switching configured to allow any number of trunk cable fiber pairs to access the optical spectrum any number of branch cable fiber pairs. Access to a particular branch terminal is not limited to predefined subset of the trunk fiber pairs. This approach allows fewer branch cable fiber pairs to be equipped in each branching unit, reducing system cost, simplifies system planning and provides flexible routing of overall trunk cable capacity.

Abstract: A system and method for in-service optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) testing in optical communication systems. At least one OSNR test signal is combined onto an optical path with data channels. A receiver detects the received power of the OSNR test signal and provides output data representative of the OSNR of the system.

Abstract: A system and method that enforces one or more policy rules on user-allocated bandwidth portions of the overall system bandwidth, for example in an optical fiber transmission system. The policy rules may limit, for example, the range of optical wavelengths, the acceptable range on the output-power-spectral density and/or the total per-band optical power within the user-allocated bandwidth that a user may provide on the system. The system may include one or more user control units that receives respective user output signals and applies all policy rules. The resulting optical output(s) of the UCU(s) may be provided an optical transmission path for transmission to a receiving terminal. In the receiving terminal, one or more UCU(s) may apply receiver policy rules, for instance by limiting the range of wavelengths transmitted to a receive subsystem.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically calibrating loopback data in a line monitoring system of an optical communication system. Extra peaks in loopback data are calibrated out of the loopback data used by the system by identifying pairs of peaks in the loopback data associated with test signal transmissions through the same high loss loopback path from opposite ends of the optical transmission path.